Wind instrument.



PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903.

L. M. ELLIS.

- WIND INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1901.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 MODEL.

mm 4 mb mm hm No. 745,804 PATBNTED DEC. 1, 1903. L. M. ELLIS.

WIND INSTRUMENT. I

APPLICATION FILEDAUG. 8 1901.-

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

GHOWQ id m: Nunnvs PETERS in wumaumu. wAsnmuTom n. c.

PATENTED DEC. 1, 1903; L. M. ELLIS. WIND INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8, 1901.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

(:1 Himmm bio. 745,804.

UNITED STATES Patented December 1, 1908.

LEWIS M. ELLIS, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA.

WIND INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 745,804, datedDecember 1, 1903- Application filed August 8, 1901. Serial No. 71,306.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, LEWIS M. ELLIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Connersville, in the county of Fayette and State ofIndiana,havein vented anew and useful Wind Instrument, of which thefollouiing is a specification.

Myiuvention relates to an improvement in the key mechanism of windinstruments such as clariuets, flutes, saxophones, oboes, bassoons, &c.

The object of my invention is to so construct the key mechanism as notto interfere with the present system of fingering, yet at the same timeto make possible certain necessary and desirable combinations notheretofore ordinarily aceomplishable.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention as applied to theclarinet.

Figure 1 shows an elevation of the lower half of the main stem of aclarinet, the bell being omitted. Fig. 2 is a plan of the upper end at aslight angle to the view shown in Fig. 1, the mouthpiece being omitted.Fig. 3 is an under plan of the keys of the upper end. Fig. 4isa sideelevation thereof. Fig. 5 is an inverted detail. Fig. 6 is a horizontalsectional detail of most of the keys shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7' is asimilar detail of most of the keys shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is asectional detail of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Figs. 9 and 10 illustratemusical passages which can be more conveniently produced by my apparatusthan by construction heretofore made.

The body of the instrumentis provided with the usual holes 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23 andalso with a hole (not shown) in transverse line with hole 9 and coveredby a cover-key 10. Between holes and 17 I also provide the usual hole,(not shown,) covered by the usual hole-cover key 16. Holes 1 2 3 4 5 andthose covered by covers 10, 16, and 22 are normally closed by theirrespective covers. Holes 6, 8, 11, 13, and 15 are closed by the fingers,and when the said holes are'closed holes 7, 9, 12, and 14 are alsoclosed by their respective covers by the action of the fingers on therespective ring-keys surrounding the holes 6, 8, 11, 13, and 15. Holes17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 23 are normally open. Hole 1 is covered byhole-cover 1, the lever of which is carried around beneath theinstrument in the usual manner to a position to be operated by the thumbof the left hand. ered by a hole-cover 2, which is carried bya shaft 2,pivoted between standards 25 and 26, parallel tothe body of theinstrument. Shaft 2 is provided at its lower end with a finger-piece 2,which lies in position to be operated by the knuckle of the forefingerof the right hand. Mounted between standards 25 and 26 and extendingbeyond 26 to a standard 27 is a shaft 28. Rotatable upon shaft 28 is asleeve 29, which carries a hole-cover 3 for the hole 3. Secured to thelower end of sleeve 29 is a bridge 30, which straddles a sleeve 31,revoluble upon shaft 28, immediately below sleeve 29 and beneath bridge30. Bridge 30 is provided at its lower end with a portion 32, sleevedupon shaft 28 and to which is secured a finger 33, which lies somewhatbeneath a finger 34, carried by a sleeve 35, rotatably mounted uponshaft 28 immediately below sleeve 31. Secured to sleeve 31 is a bar 36,which extends downward parallel with shaft 28 and is provided at itslower end with a finger-piece 3', which lies immediately under finger 2.Secured to sleeve 35 is a ring-key 6, which lies adjacent hole 6 and isprovided with a tail 6, which passes beneath a hole-cover 7, arranged toclose hole 7. Rotatably mounted upon shaft 28, immediately below sleeve35, is a sleeve 37, to which is secured a bar 38, which passes downwardparallel with the body of the instrument and is provided at its lowerend with a finger-piece 39, which lies beneath and slightly below thefinger-pieces 2" and 3'. Bar 38 is supported at its lower end by asleeve 40, rotatable upon shaft 28. Rotataably mounted upon shaft 28immediately below sleeve 37, is a sleeve 41,which carries the hole-cover7. Below sleeve 41 is a sleeve 42, which carries a ring-key 8, arrangedadjacent hole 8. Secured to sleeve 42 is a finger 43, which lies beneatha finger 44, carried by a hole cover 9, arranged to close hole 9, thesaid hole-cover being carried by a sleeve 45, rotatably mounted uponshaft 28 below sleeve 42. Also secured to sleeve 45 is a ring-key 11,arranged adjacent hole 11.

Arranged upon the body of the instrument adjacent holes 12 and 13 is apair of Hole 2 is covstandards 40, which support a shaft 47, upon whichis sleeved a pair of sleeves 48 and 49. Secured to sleeve 48 is an arm48:},which lies immediately beneath and is engaged by a tail 50, carriedby a finger-piece 51, pivoted upon the lower end of shaft 28. ,Securedto sleeve 49 is a hole-cover 12 and ring-key 13. Supported in standards52 is a shaft 53. Rotatable upon said shaft is a sleeve 54, carryinghole-cover 14, ring-key 15, and a lug 55. Mounted upon shaft53, belowsleeve 54, is asleeve 56,whicl1 carries hole-cover 17'. Sleeve 56 alsocarries a lug 57, which passes beneath the lug 55, of any usualwell-known form, by means of which connection between sleeves 55 and 56may be accurately adjusted. Sleeve 56 also carries at its lower end anadjusting-lug 58. Below sleeve 56 upon shaft 53 is a sleeve 59, whichcarries hole-cover 20, a lug 60, which passes beneath lug 58, and a lug61. Below sleeve 59 upon shaft 53 is a sleeve 62, which carrieshole-cover 23, a lug 63, which lies beneath lug 61, and a tail 64, whichis adapted to be engaged by a long key 65, the upper end of which iscarried up in position to be engaged by the little finger of the lefthand and is provided with a rail 66, which lies above and is adapted toengage arm 48%. Hole 22 is covered by a hole-cover 22, which is operatedbya long key 67, which is brought into position to be engaged by thelittle finger of the left hand in the usual manner. Key 67 is, howeverprovided with a tail 68, which lies immediately above and is adapted toengage arm 48*}. Parallel with shaft 53 is a shaft 69, which issupported in standards '70. Mounted upon shaft 69 is a key 71, whichcarries hole-cover 19. The stem of holecover 17 passes beneath shaft 69,and the hole-cover is engaged by a finger-piece 72, which is carriedbyasleeve 73, rotatable upon the upper end of the shaft 69. Secured tosleeve 73 is a bridge 74, which passes over the key 71 and at its lowerend is secured to the hole-cover18,which is sleeved upon shaft 69.Rotatable upon the lower end of shaft 69 is a sleeve 75,which carrieshole-eover21, a finger 76 brought adjacent key '71, and a lug 77, whichlies above and is adapted toengage hole-cover 20. The hole-covers 14,17, 18, 20, 21, and 23 and ring-key15are held normally up by the usualarrangement of springs engaging the respective sleeves to which saidhole-covers and ring-key are secured.

Referring now to Fig. 5, projecting from the under side of sleeve 48 isa lug 48, and projecting from sleeve 49 adjacent lug 48 is a lug 49.Secured to one of standards 46 is a spring 49,which engages both lugs48and 49. Secured to sleeve 48 is one end of a spring 48, the end ofwhich engages both lugs 49'and 48 upon the side opposite to that engagedbythe spring 49. By this arrangement it will be noticed that upondepressing either one of finger-keys 51, 65, or 67 arm 48:} of sleeve 48will be engaged and said sleeve swung upon its shaft. The strength andarrangement of spring 49 is such as to normally hold down the hole cover12 and ring-key 13; but when the sleeve 48 is swung, as described,spring 49 is deflected by the lug 48 and spring 48 operates to swingsleeve 49, so as to withdraw from their respective holes the hole-coversand ring-key. If this movement has been produced by key and it isdesired to retain the effect produced consequentupon the depression ofhole-covers 14, 17, 20, and 23 and yet produce the effect consequentupon the closing of hole 13 with the finger and the consequent closingof hole 12 with the hole-cover 12, the result may be accomplished bypressing the first finger of the right hand on ring-key 13, sleeve 49being thus swung upon its shaft, so as to depress hole-cover 12 andspring 48, serving to return the parts to raised position immediatelyupon the release of the ring-key 13. It is to be noticed in thisconnection that the result is accomplished not by a difference instrength of the two springs 48 and 49, but instead by reason of the factthat one of the springs is carried by one of the sleeves and that thesprings overlap on opposite sides of the lugs. Herein lies what Iconceive to be one of the fundamental features of myinvention, and thismechanism is reproduced in several parts now to be described. It is notabsolutely necessary that each spring engage both lugs; but such anarrangement is advisable, as a better balance and set of the parts maybe maintained.

Projecting from sleeve 45 is alug45, which is engaged by the free end ofa spring 78, which is secured to the lug 43, carried by sleeve 42. Saidlug 43 is engaged by the free end of a spring 79, which is secured to anintermediate standard 80, through which the shaft 28 is passed. Sleeve42 carries an adjusting-lug 81, which passes beneath a lug 82, carriedby the sleeve 41. (See Fig. 3.) Projecting from the underside of sleeve41 is a lug 83, adjacent to which is a lug 84, which projects from theunder side of the sleeve 37. Sleeve 37 is also provided with a lug 85,to which is attached aspring 86, the free end of which engages lug 84and lies in line with lug 83. The opposite sides of lugs 83 and 84 areengaged by the free end of a spring 87, which is secured to a lug 87,projecting from the under side of sleeve Said lug 87 is engaged by thefree end of a spring 88, which is secured to one of the intermediatestandards 80. Projecting from about the middle of sleeve 31 is a lug 89,to which is secured a spring 90, the free end of said spring engaginglugs 91 and 92, which project from adjacent ends of sleeves 31 and 29,respectively. The opposite sides of said lugs 91 and 92 are engaged bythe free end of a spring 93, which is secured to standard 25. Secured tostandard 25 is a second sprin 94, the free end of which engages a lug95, carried by the shaft 2 and so arranged as to normally hold holecover2' down over its hole. Sleeve 42 oarries an arm 96, which is projectedbeneath shaft 2", so that when said shaft is thrown downward it willengage said arm 96 to swing sleeve 42.

Spring 93 engages lugs 92 and 91 upon the proper side to normally holdhole-cover 3 over its hole 3 and to hold the finger-piece 3 up. Spring88 engages lug 87 upon the proper side to raise ring-key 6, which, byreason of its tail 6", also operates to raise hole-cover 7. Spring 87engages lug 83 upon the proper side to hold hole-cover 7 in engagementwith tail 6". Spring 86 rests against lug 84c and projects into the pathof lug 83; but suffioient space is left between the lug S3 and thespring to allow the depression of hole-cover 7 to closed position beforelug 83 comes into contact with said spring. Spring 79 engages lug 43 onthe side proper to normally raise ringkey 8, thus resulting through lugs13 and at in the normally raised position of the holecover 9 and thering-key 11. Spring 78, which is secured to lug 43, engages lug 45 onthe side proper to maintain lug 44 in engagement with lug 43. By thisarrangement a depression of either of ring-keys 11 or 8 will result in adepression of hole-covers 7 and 9. If ring-key S has been depressed andring-key 11 is left free, however, holecover 9 may be raised bydepressing key 39, the rod 36 thereof engaging tail 96, which projectsfrom the side of sleeve 45. The hole-cover 9 may also be raised when ithas been first depressed by a depression of ringkey 8 by a depression ofeither of fingerkeys 2 or 3, the said keys lying in succession over thefinger-key 39. The arrangement of springs is also such that a depressionof ring-key 6 will cause a depression of holecover 7; but saidhole-cover may be then raised by a depression of finger-key 39 or eitherof the keys 2 or 3" immediately thereover.

The mechanism described as applied to a clarinet does not change in anyway the present system of fingering of the two or four ring Buffetsystem clarinet, but gives many new and desirable fingerings forsecuring different tones, some of which have been very difficult withthe present system and have required long and tiresome practice beforethey could be successfully accomplished. Other systems of fingering havebeen devised to overcome or make possible such difficult combinations;but such systems have required the player to learn new fingerings beforehe could use the instrument at all. In the present case my instrument iscapable of producing the required tones in the usual and regular waysnow common in clarinets or other similar instruments, but in additionmakes possible new fingerings which may be added by the player from timeto time as opportunity is afforded.

s It will be noticed that as each tone-hole in the left hand is openedthose immediately below it are open, thus giving a perfectly free exit,and consequently full and pure tones free from that choked quality whichhas heretofore been common in instruments of this class. This opening ofthe tone-holes in the left hand also permits perfect tuning to eachother and to the fork-tones in a manner not heretofore possible with theordinary system.

By the arrangement of connections between the keys described many newfingerings are possible, chief among which are the following: A-naturalcan be made in the regular way with the At} key 4, also by pressing 3with the thumb-hole (not shown) closed. B-flatcan be made with An key 4Eand thumbkey 1, with 3" and the thumb-key 1, with 4 and 3, with key 2. Bcan be made in the regular way with all fingers down and thumb-key 1open or with keys Ah 4 and 2", with 2 and thumb-key 1, or with Al, key4, 3 and thumb-key 1. O can be made in the regular way or with Ah key 4,2 and thumb-key 1. O-sharp can be made in the two usual ways as infifteen-key instrument. D-sharp can be made three waysby opening key D519, by holding first, second, and fourth fingers of right hand down andraising third of right, or byholding first and second of right hand downand fourth (key of left hand. The advantage of this improvement inpassages like the passage illustrated in Fig. 9 can be appreciated.F-natural of the second octave can be made in four ways by opening key16, by holding down first and third of right hand and raising second, byholding down firstand fourth ofright hand, and by holding down first ofright hand and fourth of left. G-sharp of the second octave can be madein four waysby pressing Gfi key 51, Bk] key 65, or Cfi key 67, or byraising third finger of left hand and closing first and second of right.A-sharp of the second octave can be made in four ways-by opening .keyAti key 10', by pressing key 39 or key 3, and by closing first and thirdof left hand and raising second. O-natural of the second octave can bemade in three waysby pressing key 39 or key 3 or by raising first ofleft hand and closing second. The advantage of the mechanism forproducing G-sharp of the second octave can be appreciated in passageslike that shown in Fig. 10.

The chromatic scale may be produced on applicants instrument both byopening the holes successively and also by cross-fingering.

I claim as my invention 1. In a wind instrument, the combination of apair of rotatable sleeves, a lug projecting from each sleeve, a springcarried by one sleeve and engaging the lug of the other sleeve, and asecond spring acting in the opposite direction to the first spring andengaging the lug of the first-mentioned sleeve.

2. In a wind instrument, the combination of a sleeve one or more keysadapted to rotate the said sleeve, a combined ring-key and hole-cover, aspring connection between said Sleeve and the combined ring-key andholecover, and means engaging both the sleeve and the combined ring-keyand hole-cover for yieldingly holding the two parts in normal positions.

3. In a wind instrument, the combination of a pair of movable sleeves, aspring carried by a stationary support and engaging both of said sleevesin one direction, and a second spring carried by one of said sleeves andengaging the other sleeve in a direction opposite to the direction ofthe first spring.

4. In a Wind instrument, the combination of a pair of movable sleeves, aspring carried by one of said sleeves and engaging the other, and asecond spring carried by a stationary support and engaging the sleeveengaged by thefirst spring but in opposition to said first spring.

5. In a wind instrument, the combination of an operating-sleeve, acombined ring-key and hole-cover, a spring carried by said sleeve andengaging the combined ring-key and holecover, and a spring carried by astationary support and engaging the combined ring-key and hole-cover inopposition to the first spring.

6. In a wind instrument, the combination of a combined ring-key andhole-cover, a second ring-key, means for yieldingly holding the combinedring-key and hole-cover in engagement with the second ring-key, andmeans for independently operating the combined ring-key and hole-coverin opposition to said yielding means.

7. In a wind instrument, the combination of a combined ring-key andhole-cover, a

second ring-key, interacting parts, engagingin one direction only,carried by the said two parts, a spring carried by the second ringkeyand engaging the combined ring-key and hole-cover to hold saidinteracting parts together, and means for independently moving thecombined ring-key and hole-cover in the opposite direction.

8. In a wind instrument, the combination of a combined ring-key andhole-cover, a second ring-key, a pair of interacting lugs carried bysaidtwo parts and operable in one direction only, a spring carried bythe ringkey and engaging the combined ring-key and hole-cover so as tohold the said lugs together, and a spring carried by a stationarysupport and engaging the ring-key.

9. In a wind instrument, the combination of a ring-key, a hole-cover,intermediate connections acting in one direction only between saidring-key and hole-cover, a second ringkey, intermediate connectionsacting in one direction only between said second ring-key and thehole-cover, means for normally holding together the said intermediateconnections between the first ring-key and the holecover, and betweenthe second ring-key and the hole-cover, and means for independentlyoperating the hole-cover.

10. In a wind instrument the combination of a normally raised ring-key,a normally raised hole-cover, a pair of lugs carried one by each of saidparts and acting in a direction to close the hole-cover upon adepressionof the ring-key, a second normally raised ring-key, intermediateconnections between said second ring-key and the hole-cover to normallyraise the hole-cover, yielding means holding the hole-cover inengagement with both ring-keys, whereby the hole-cover will be closedupon a depression of either ringkey, and means independent of thering-keys for raising the hole-cover.

11. In a wind instrument, a ring-key, a spring normally raising saidring-key, a second ring-key, a spring normally raising said secondring-key, a hole-cover mounted between the two ring-keys, intermediateseparable connections between the second ringkey and the hole-cover fornormally raising the hole-cover, intermediate separable connectionsbetween the-first ring-key and the hole-cover whereby a depression ofsaid first ring-key will depress the hole-cover, and a spring carried bythe second ring-key and engaging the hole-cover and yieldingly holdingthe hole-cover in engagement with said second ring-key.

12. In a Wind instrument, a combined ringkey and hole-cover a secondring-key, a second hole-cover, intermediate separable connectionsbetween the combined ring-key and hole-cover and the second ring-key,means for yieldingly holding said connections together whereby adepression of either ring-key will cause a depression of the secondhole-cover, means for raising the combined ring-key and hole-coverindependentof the second ring-key and second hole-cover, intermediateseparable connections between the second ringkey and the secondhole-cover whereby a depression of said second ring-key will depress thesecond hole-cover,athird ring-key, intermediate separable connectionsbetween said third ring-key and the second hole-cover, means foryieldingly holding said connections together whereby a depression of thesaid third ring-key will cause a depression of said second hole-cover,and means independent of the said third ring-key for raising saidhole-cover.

13. In a wind instrument, the combination of a normally raised combinedring-key and hole-cover,a normally raised second ring-key, a pair ofcoacting lugs carried one by each of said parts, a spring carried by thesecond ring-key and engaging the combined ring-key and hole-cover tohold said lugs in normal engagement, a second hole-cover, intermediateconnections acting in one direction only between the second ring-key andthe second hole-cover, a third normally raised ring-key, intermediateconnections acting in one direction only between said third ring-key andthe second hole-cover for normally raising the second hole-cover, athird l1ole-c0ver, means for normally holding said third hole-coverclosed, a finger-key for raisin said third holecover, a pair of normallyseparated lugs one carried by the third ring-key and the other by thethird hole-cover, and a spring connection between said last-mentionedfinger-key and the third hole-cover, whereby the third hole-cover may bedepressed by a depression of the third ring-key when the said finger-keyis held depressed.

14. In a Wind instrument, the combination of a normally raised ring-key,a normally closed hole-cover, an independently-movable finger-key,intermediate normally separated connections operable in one directiononly between said ring-key and hole-cover,a spring carried by thefinger-key and engaging the hole-cover, and aspring carried by astationary support and engaging the hole-cover and finger-key in adirection opposite to the firstmentioned spring.

15. In a Wind instrument, the combination of a normally raised combinedring-key and hole-cover, a normally raised second ring-key, a pair oflugs carried by said parts, a spring carried by the second ring-key andengaging the combined ring-key and hole-cover to hold the said lugs innormal engagement, a spring carried by a stationary support and engagingthe said second ring-key so as to normally raise the same, a secondhole-cover, a pair of cooperating lugs carried one by the secondring-key and one by the second hole-cover in position to cause adepression of the second hole-cover upon a depression of the secondring-key, a finger-key, a tail carried by the combined ring-key andhole-cover adapted to be engaged by said finger-key, a spring carried bysaid finger-key and arranged to be brought into engagement with thesecond hole-cover, a third ring-key, a spring carried by said ring-keyand arranged to engage the second hole-ooverin opposition to thefingerkey spring, a portion of the third ring-key projected beneath thesecond hole-cover, a third hole-cover, a spring carried by a stationarysupport and engaging said third holecover to normally close the same, asecond finger-key also engaged by said last-mentioned spring, a springcarried by said second finger-key and engaging the said third holecoverin opposition to the before-mentioned spring, and a pair of normallyseparated lugs carried one by the third hole-cover and the other by thethird ring-key whereby, after an elevation of the third hole-cover bymeans of the second finger-key, the said third holecover may bedepressed by a depression of the third ring-key.

16. In a Wind instrument, the combination of a holecover, anindependently-movable finger-key, an independently-movable ringkey, saidring-key engaging the hole-cover in one direction only, a spring carriedby a stationary support and engaging the ring-key, a lug carried by thefinger-key, an adjacent lug carried by the hole-cover, a spring carriedby the ring-key and engaging the lug of the hole-cover, and anoppositely-operating spring carried by the finger-key and having itsfree end projected into the path of movement of the lug of thehole-cover.

LEW'IS M. ELLIS.

Witnesses:

MILEs K. MOFFETT, WILLIAM T. MURRAY.

